Invasive plants are common throughout North Carolina and the United States. They present a danger in how their growth affects native plants and wildlife. Five of the most prevalent invasive plant species in North Carolina are listed below. Click on their names to learn more about what they are and where they came from.

The eastern United States' mightiest tree, the oak, is in decline, possibly due to over-harvesting or climate change. Whatever the cause, scientists are trying to find ways to reverse this decline. Watch U.S. Forest Service researchers use fire to give young oaks room to grow in the North Carolina mountains.

Animals in Africa face challenges from dwindling habitats and climate, but most dangerous of all can be farmers or poachers who can kill threatened species for protection and profit. Watch how researchers at the North Carolina Zoo are using radio and satellite tracking to follow and protect animals in Africa and in our own backyard.

Scientists tackle a number of coastal challenges that stem from shifting sediment that fills transport channels in the Pamlico Sound, including managing dredged materials to make room for ferries, uncovering items of cultural importance, and preserving valuable sea grass.

George Vanderbilt pushed the technology envelope when building Biltmore Estate, and his descendants still promote technology with a solar farm. The estate also raises canola and collects cooking oil from restaurants to make biodiesel fuel.